Tautvydas Kieras: First Lithuanian signed to an NFL team - and he's never played American football

Monday, March 21, 2016

The Kansas City Chiefs, an American football team in the NFL, has signed Tautvydas Kieras, a Lithuanian track and field athlete, onto its team as a linebacker. The catch? Kieras has never played a game of professional or college football in his life.

Kieras, who is 6'3 and weights 271 pounds (1.90m and 123kg), would be the first Lithuanian to sign to an NFL team, and if he makes it from the team's off-season program onto its roster, he will be the first Lithuanian to play in the NFL as well.

There have been players of Lithuanian descent in the NFL before, but Kieras would be the first player from Lithuania.

Kieras left Lithuania for the USA in 2011 as a discuss thrower. He set Mississippi State University's record for the discus throw in 2015, and was a successful shot put competitor as well.

Though he has no professional experience with football, it was his impressive athletic numbers that earned him a shot as a Kansas City Chief. Kieras benched 225lb (102kg) 24 times on the bench press, jumped 35 inches (.9m) vertically, and ran a 40-yard (36.5m) dash in less than 4.7 seconds.

It remains to be seen how Kieras will do, but he has a three year contract with the Chiefs to make his best effort. As someone without a background in American football, many US commentators say his chances aren't good, but they also acknowledge that it isn't impossible, as there are numerous players in the NFL today who successfully made the jump from other sports.